Best Scope for 30-06: Accuracy at its Best

We’re sure you’ll agree that choosing a scope requires a lot of careful planning and research. But going through the vast array of options on the market to get the best scope for 30-06 is definitely a time-consuming, thought-munching chore. That’s if you’re not reading this article.

A great scope will fit your 30-06 exactly, so that’s why you need this type. You’ll also notice an improvement in precision, a mount that fits perfectly and overall features that go with your weapon and you’re purpose.

We’ve not only comprised and reviewed some remarkable items here, but we’ve also explained how to choose a dependable scope. So even if you don’t end up choosing one of our products, you can still make sure you’ll end up with a good one.

Features to Consider Before Buying

There are different characteristics you should take into account before getting a reliable 30-06 scope, but the one that truly dictates all the others is your purpose.

Magnification and Diameter

The dimensions will tell you how enhanced the images will be, and how well you can see in low light conditions through the scope. That’s why you should choose the magnification according to the type of game you’re after, as well as the range. A bigger magnification works for smaller animals, as well as longer distances.

A bigger lens diameter will allow more light to pass through it, thus making the scope better for dim light conditions. And if you’re after a game that comes out to play at dusk or dawn, a bigger diameter is definitely useful.

Reticle

The basic reticle type is the Duplex, improved in the Triplex or 4-plex options. The BDC reticle is better for tactical purposes, but it can get a bit thick, so it’s not amazing for smaller game.

You can also get an illuminated reticle for increased accuracy because this will make your dot more visible, which is better for non-reflective targets. Just make sure you get the right color, red and green being the most common, though there are scopes with blue or amber colors. You should also make sure you can adjust the brightness level accordingly.

Coating

Coating helps with light transmission and image brightness. That’s why a more quality scope will have more layers of coating, with the best ones on the market being fully multi-coated. And if hunting is more than just a hobby for you, this is definitely something to consider.

A simply coated scope, albeit with a quality substance, will still render blurry images. But even if you have a fully multi-coated product, the image brightness depends on the lens quality as well. So, a less quality glass might still blur your images, at least around the edges.

Construction

A machined aluminum construction is really amazing for your scope in terms of durability and resistance to scratches and shocks, though it’s more expensive. A gas-purged scope, whether with nitrogen or argon is great for preventing fog formation from the inside, while an O-seal prevents moisture.

We love scopes that are waterproof, fog proof and weather-resistant. That means you can use them in very rough field conditions. But the ability to resist shocks might be even more important, particularly if you’re planning to mount your scope on a high caliber weapon.

Special Features

At this point, we refer to features like trajectory compensation, ability to estimate holdovers or a fast-focusing reticle. Each of these will gets you more accurate shots depending on your needs. Trajectory compensation is great for elevation, fast-focusing for quick target acquisition and holdovers don’t need any clarification.

But all these characteristics might add to the cost, so make sure you really need this for your hunt. For instance, trajectory compensation is great for tree standing, while fast-focusing is better for long-range shooting, while precise holdover estimations help you take precise shots at versatile distances.

That said, the products below have different qualities which recommend them for various purposes.

Best Products on Today’s Market

If you browse through the products we selected, we’re sure you’ll find the best 30-06 scope for your needs. We’ve reviewed items with diverse characteristics, and we’ve listed their cons too, not just their pros, so you can compare and choose something that fits.

The Nikon Buckmaster Riflescope is a versatile riflescope with a generous magnification between 3 to 9x, which is amazing for getting accurate shots at different distances. This wide range of focusing will also help you target different-sized games.

The 40 mm lens diameter is great for enhanced light transmission and quality images even in dim light. And with the multicoated lenses that are 92% anti-reflection, your images will be as crisp as they can be. Plus, the O-ring seals and nitrogen filling don’t let any water get inside this scope, and prevent fog formation too.

We love the BDC reticle that’s fairly accurate. It also has a trajectory compensation, so you’ll get aim points for different ranges. We also appreciate how versatile this scope is since you can use it on various weapons and shoot to 600 yards max.

On the other hand, the 100 yards parallax setting isn’t that great, since the image might appear distorted. The 3.6 mm eye relief could also use some improvement, but it’s alright for the budget.

The Vortex Viper PST FFP Riflescope is a good scope for the long distance considering it has a versatile magnification in the range between 6 to 24x, so you can see enhanced details of even the smallest game. The illuminated EBR-2C MOA reticle is incredibly accurate too, and you have multiple settings for it.

The 50 mm lens diameter provides an outstanding light transmission for great dim light vision. And the fully multi-coated lenses provide very bright images too, no matter the weather. That’s because this scope is resistant to water and fog alike.

But it’s also resistant to shocks, which is an important feature for 30-06 scopes. That’s thanks to its aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum construction, which screams durability. The 30 mm tube, with target turrets and side parallax adjustment, is great in terms of precision and durability.

This top grade quality is certainly a consequence of the high-end price range, and that’s really the only disadvantage we could find, in the sense that it’s not an affordable scope. Also, some could argue that it’s a little heavier than other similar scopes, but that can be explained by the multiple layers of coating and durable construction.

PROS:

Grade A optics

Extreme accuracy

Sturdy body

CONS:

Expensive

Heavyish

Related: We recommend the Vortex Defender Flip Objective 50 that’s designed for the Vortex optics range. As such, it can fit this scope quite well too, and protect it even better from dust and debris. Ensuring its long life.

The Leupold VX-2 Rifle Scope is a good reticle for close or medium distances, thanks to a 3 to 9x magnification. The 40 mm lens diameter allows enhanced light transmission, so this is a great scope for low light conditions too. It is also worth mentioning that it is waterproof and fog proof, so you don’t have to worry about potential damage in different weather conditions.

However, it shows a decrease in quality that comes with a decrease in price when you compare it to the Vortex PST FFP scope. For instance, its Duplex reticle, even if it works well, it is the basic model. The 1-inch tube isn’t the most quality product on the market either, and the Diamond coating is applied in just one layer.

We do appreciate the black and silver finish though, which makes this scope resistant to water and scratches. Even the 11.2 ounces weight is light enough for an easy use.

PROS:

Reliable

Affordable

Light

CONS:

Basic build

Related: The Leupold Standard 1″ Rings are exactly what you need to fix this scope on different bases, whether one-piece or two-piece. They’re extremely rugged too, and they don’t cost much at all.

The Simmons 8-Point Riflescope is a quality scope for the money, and its Quick Target Acquisition eyepiece is what we love most about it. Other than that, it has solid features, like a 50 mm lens diameter for good light transmission and quality images even in a dimmer light.

The 3-9x magnification works well for medium animals, at a short to medium distance range, and the Truplex reticle is pretty reliable. The full coating isn’t that good though, you might still have some problems with image brightness.

However, we really appreciate that for such a small retail price, this scope is waterproof, fog proof and shockproof. The windage and elevation adjustments are manual though, but they have audible 1/4MOA clicks. The field of view is pretty generous with 10.5-31.4 feet at 100 yards, although the 3.75 inches eye relief could use some improvement.

PROS:

Solid

Works in low light

Accurate enough

CONS:

Small eye relief

Troubles with image brightness

Related: The Accushot UTG High Profile Picatinny/Weaver Rings are just the thing you need to attach this scope onto your rifle. At an affordable price, you’ll get two 1-inch rings that are extremely durable and versatile, as they work with both Weaver and Picatinny rails.

The Nikon Buck Master II Scope is a great scope for the money, especially for the short to medium range shots. You can use this for hunting, or even target practice thanks to its 4-12x magnification. However, the image can get somewhat blurred the closer you get to the 12x, though it’s not as bad as for a really cheap scope.

The 40 mm lens diameter is great for increased light transmission and works well at dusk or dawn. The fully multicoated, 98% anti-reflective lens should be better though in terms of image brightness, considering some models get fuzzy along the edges.

The BDC reticle is great for medium animals, seeing as it’s a bit thick and it might cover a smaller game. And it comes with a quick-focus eyepiece for fast shots. The zero-reset turret works well, this scope holds the zero well.

The spring-loaded adjustment knob isn’t flimsy, and the nitrogen-filled, O-ring sealed construction is great for rendering this scope waterproof and fog proof.

PROS:

Durable construction

Great reticle

Light

CONS:

Blurred edges

Blurry images at higher magnification

Related: The Nikon 16167 A-Series Aluminum is a pair of mounting rings specially designed for Nikon scopes, which is why they fit well with this riflescope too. They’re medium-sized, with a black coating which makes them resistant enough for your needs.

The Bushnell Trophy XLT DOA Riflescope is a good scope for deer hunting, and we love the HD clarity it has. First, it’s good for deer and whitetail considering it has a 4 – 12x magnification which works well for the medium range. Also, it has a 40 mm diameter for great performance in a dim light, which is exactly what these animals prefer.

The DOA 600 reticle is very accurate for hunting deer, and the fully multi-coated lens account for bright images thanks to a high, 91% light transmission. The Butler Creek flip-up lens covers are easy to adjust and you can simply take them off if they bother you. The windage and elevation adjustments are manual, though, with ¼ MOA click adjustments.

The fast-focus eyepiece is something we definitely love, but the 3.5 inches eye relief is a bit small. Besides, it doesn’t work well with bigger recoil weapons, and the image can get a bit blurry for the bigger magnifications.

PROS:

Affordable

Reliable reticle

Good optics

CONS:

Small eye relief

Not for big recoil weapons

Image gets blurry for bigger magnifications

Related: The Vortex Bubble Level is great to ensure that your rifle is perfectly vertical. Plus it goes with a large variety of scopes and rifles, it comes with the Vortex promise of quality and it’s at an affordable price.

The Redfield Revolution 4-Plex is a solid and very clear scope that comes at an inexpensive price, yet still, has an impressive quality. We love its long eye relief that works well for different rifles, including those of a higher caliber. This long-range eye relief will also help you with fast target acquisition.

It comes at a light weight, and it has the Leupold seal of trust. It fits big game rifles too, and the 3-9x magnification works for the short to medium range well. The 4-plex reticle is among the basic models, and it’s good for deer hunting.

The anodized aluminum housing is resistant, the dials turn very well and the mounting length won’t inconvenience you at all. On the other hand, the windage and elevation adjustments are manual, and the clicks are pretty hard to hear. However, we like that this scope holds the zero extremely well.

PROS:

Light

Long eye relief

Resistant

CONS:

Inaudible clicks

Related: The Leupold Rifleman Detachable Rings are just what you need to set up this scope on your rifle. They’re easy to mount and versatile, plus they aren’t flimsy like most low-priced mounting rings.

The Vortex Diamondback Riflescope is great for a 30-06 weapon, but it’s the best choice for people who are interested in hunting at various ranges. That’s because you need to have good holdover measurements, as well as accurate windage corrections when shooting at different distances. And thanks to the dead-hold BDC reticle you can have all that because you can customize its dot according to your needs.

That said, the 4 – 16x magnification is also something that proves the versatility of this scope since you can choose a wide range of detail enhancement. The 42 mm lens diameter works well for increased light transmission and bright images at dusk or dawn, but the quality XR fully multi-coated XD lens improve image brightness too.

The O-ring seals and argon gas purging are great for rendering this scope waterproof, fog proof and shock-resistant. The fact that it has a second focal plane reticle is also great for eliminating parallax, and the ¼ MOA click adjustments are easy to make.

The package is complete with a 4-inch sunshade, lens caps and cloth included, but you also need a torque wrench which isn’t included here.

PROS:

Versatile

Great for holdovers

Quality optics

CONS:

No torque wrench

Manual windage and elevation adjustments

Related: The Vortex Cantilever Ring Mount might be the mount you’re looking for. It’s sturdy and reliable, it has a Cantilever base and two rings, and it’s designed especially for 1-inch tubes, with a 2-inch offset.

Wrap Up

Whether the price is an issue and you’re after a more affordable scope like the Simmons 8-Point Riflescope or you want to invest more in a top-grade product, like the Vortex Optics PST FFP Riflescope, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve discussed scopes that work for the long and short ranges, versatile items with different reticle types, some of which are even customizable.

But since the choice is ultimately yours, we’re curious to hear what that is. What are you planning to use it for? Is there anything we missed in this article? Is there a better product you’ve tried or know of? The comments are right below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shawn Harrison

Shawn Harrison is our expert in hunting. He was born in Alaska, so hunting was his hobby since high school. Later, Shawn took a Hunter Training at Alaska Department of Fish and Game to structure his knowledge and now he is open to share his knowledge with our readers. Shawn is taking ‘Safety First’ approach on all of his trips, especially is some people are going hunting for the first time.

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